When I got Otto the tank he was in had sand as a substrate , when I brought him home I filled his tank with sand ( a different color but same kind) and he started tasting it so I got scared he would get an impacttion so I removed all the sand. It’s been a couple months and he’s about 10” head to tail . When can I start using sand as a substrate again? Does it matter if he takes a few tastes?

Its not even natural for them as they dont live on sand in the wild, the closest thing to really replicate that type of texture is a somewhat hard surface which would resemble hard packed dirt and clay in their home range of Australia.

If you use it again your risking impaction, fungal infections, bacteria breeding grounds, prolapses, eye infections, and multiple other things.

In the wild if their in an area with more looser substrates they can easily escape all the bacteria if needed, however in a small tank they cant.

Some people see their beardie take a few licks of the substrate and think nothing of it, until eventually in a few years the bearded dragon gets so much sand in their digestive system of licking it up occasionally over the years it gets impacted and dies if untreated.

While there are a group of very vocal breeders and keepers here in Australia who advocate BUNNINGS PLAY SAND for all bearded dragons (even the youngest hatchlings) , sand of any kind is a very serious impaction risk, especially for hatchlings and juveniles ..... better off on bare plastic (in a tub) , lino , loose layed ceramic tiles or paper sheets = easier to spot clean , no risk of ingesting something that wont pass or might accumulate and block the GIT and earier to keep hygienic.